Vacuum cleaner



Oct. 29, 1 M. H. SPIELMAN VACUUM CLEANER Filed July 16, 1938 INVENTOR.

M rm m m E Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFica Milton H.Spielm or to The B an, Cuyahoga Falls, out, assignlack & Decker ElectricCompany,

Kent, hio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 16, 1938, Serial No.219,010.

. 10 Claims. This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner'and especiallyto an electric vacuum cleaner for use i may be quickly removed ingarages.

Vacuum cleaners are used extensively in garages and automotive serviceand car washing stations, to remove dirt from the interior of automotivevehicles. It is fast becoming a general practice to' cleanse'theupholstering of automobiles with a solution containing a cleaning agent.This solution is applied to the fabric of the vehicle by abrush orspongeand it has been found desirable to remove the cleaning solution with avacuum cleaner. In this manner the solution before the liquids enter thefibers of the fabric. Thus, when the cleaner is removed in this manner,the fabric, after such removal is substantially dry. Obviously, it ishighly desirable that the vacuum cleaner used for this purpose may alsobe used to remove dirt and dust from the vehicle in the usual manner.The general object of the present invention is to provide an electricvacuum cleaner for the uses above set forth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaner of acomparatively small size, yet which will advantageously utilize acomparatively large filtering element, and to'so arrange the elementthat it will be protected from the effects of cleaning liquids which areto be removed immediately following the cleaning operation.

It is likewise an object of the present invention to protect thefiltering element in such a manner that the larger particles of dirtwill not reach the main filtering element, and to so arrange the cleaneras to facilitate assembly or replacement of the filtering elements, aswell as to facilitate the removal of the dust, debris "and liquids.

Other objects of the present invention willbecome more apparent from thefollowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,in which I illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention; Theessential features ofthe invention-will be claims. A

Referring now to the, drawing, in which I illustrate a preferred form ofmy invention, Fig. 1 is a vertically extending, centrally locatedsectionthrough a preferred form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection, as indicated by the lines 2-2 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view. on asmaller I scale'than Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating the filteri and powerunit removed from the cleaner receptacle; Fig. 4 is a view of the dustcollector'receptacle removed from the cleaner; Fig. 5 ia-a view thecylinder l0, and provides a housing 'for a summarized in the of theliquid collecting receptacle; and Fig. 6 is a view of the cleaner basesFigs. 3 to 6, inclusive, are partially broken away to more clearlyillustrate the construction of the various units which comprise thecleaner. 5 -My improved cleaner comprises an open ended, comparativelylight-weight sheet-metal cylinder l0, into which a power filtering unitA is 81189 pended by a cover II. The cylinder is removably mounted on aliquid and refuse collecting +10 receptacle i2, which in turn isremovably supported on a base ll. The base is provided with castors l5to enable it to be removed from place to place.

The side walls of the base ll extend upwardly around the receptacle l2,and as illustrated are more rigid than the walls of the receptacle, toprovide a protecting skirt therefor. The base ll also maintains thebottom of the receptacle spaced above the cleaner supporting surface,and forms a counterbalance for the motor and filter unit.

The cover, together unit supported thereby, same as that shown andclaimed in Patent No. 2,116,233, issued December 21, 1936, to Black andDecker Electric Company. Therefore, reference to such patent may be hadfor a complete description of this unit. Briefly, the power filteringunit comprises a sheet-metal cover l6, which is secured to upstandinglugs IQ of a closure member20. The closure member is removably securedto the upper rim of the cylinder II by screws 2|. The closure memberdepends into with the power filtering is' substantially the multi-stagesuction fan 28 and an electric motor 24, which is drivingly connected tooperate the fan. The arrangement is such that the fan draws air from themotor and exhausts it through I an opening 25 inthe closure member fromwhence it escapes between the overhanging skirt of the cover and theperiphery of the closure member, as indicated by the arrows in-Fig. 1.This arrangement provides a chamber between the walls of the motor andfan housing, 'and the internal walls of the cylinder l0.

The filtering element comprises a bag-like member 28 of cloth, paper orsimilar flexible dust and dirt pervious material. This element is openat its upper end, which is tightly secured to a depending annular rib 21of the closure member. As shown in. Fig. 1, this filter bag encloses thefan and motor unit and is spaced apart fromthe walls thereof as well asfrom the walls of the container ll.

The filter bag is preferably resiliently maintained in an expandedposition by springs 28 which encircle posts 29 carried by the closuremember 23. These springs are interposed between pins 33, carried by theposts, and ears 3| formed on a reinforcing ring 32, which is secured tothe bottom of the filter bag.

The cylinder l extends substantially to the bottom of the filter unitand rests on the receptacle I! as shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, I inserta rubber packing ring 33 between the adjacentrims of the cylinder l0 andthe receptacle l2. Any well known latch such as that indicated at 34 inFig. 1, may be used to maintain the cylinder ill in position on thereceptacle 1!.

Dirt and/or moisture laden air is drawn into the receptacle l2 throughan opening 36 in the upper portion of the side wall of the receptacle I2. This opening is provided with, a fitting 33, to which the usualcleaner hose arrangement is secured in any well known manner.

The greater part of the moisture, or water, as well as the largerparticles of.dirt are removed from the air, before such air reaches thecylinder I 0 or the power filter unit A. Extending across the receptacleI2, above the inlet opening 36, and below the power filter unit A, is acoarse filter 40. vAs illustrated, this coarse filter 40 is in the formof a wire screen mesh or fabric having openings of approximatelyone-eighth inch. However, the

.iilter 40 may be a perforated metal plate. The

filter or screen 40 is shown as being supported by angle clips securedto the internal walls of the receptacle 2. I have found that the screen40 removes, from the moisture and dirt laden air, the greater portion ofthe'water and the larger par- .ticles of dirt, which fall to the bottomceptacle l2.

Obviously dust,.small' particles of dirt, and a certain amount ofmoisture passes through the screen upwardly toward the power filter unitA. While the dust and smaller particles of dirt may be permitted toreach the filter 28 of the unit A, obviously moisture should beprevented from contacting such filter, as were it to become saturated,the efilciency of the unit would be materially impaired; first becauseof the increased vacuum required to draw air through the filter, andsecond, because moisture would be detrimental to the mo- .tor 24 throughwhich all of the air is drawn. I have found that this may beaccomplished by shielding the filter unit so as to cause the air passingthrough the screen or coarse filter 40 to .pass a considerable distanceupwardly prior to its contact with the filter 28 of the unit A. I preferto accomplish this by using a shield such as is shown at 45 in Figs. 1,2 and 4.

The shield 45 is a cylindrical receptacle having ,a sheet-metal sidewall 4 and is closed at the bottom by a wall 41. As shown in Fig. 1,this shield substantially encloses the filter unit A. The sidewall ofthe shield is spaced both from the filter 26 and the wall of thecylinder ll, while the bottom of the shield is spaced both from thecoarse filter or screen 40 and the filter II. As illustrated, the shield43 is supported by the coarse screen 43 being secured thereto by bolts43. Suit- .able spacers 43 are interposed between the screen 43 and thebottom of the receptacle or shield 44 to maintain the'spaced relationheretofore referred to I have found that when the cleaner is inoperationwith the usual suction unit, the air will not have sufilcient velocityto carry the particles of water or moisture above thelevel indiof therecated by the line B in Fig. 1. Thus, the moisture does not reach thefilter 26 or the motor 24.

The shield 45 has a further advantage. I have found that when thecleaner is used as a simple vacuum cleaner, the dust is drawn upwardthrough the coarse screen 43, between the walls of the shield 45 and thecylinder l0 into the shield 45. This shield thus serves as a receptaclefor such dust and prevents it from falling into the water receptacle l2,thus facilitating cleaning of the unit. I From the foregoing descriptionit will be seen that I have provided a simple cleaner which may be usedto remove both dust and cleaning liquids from fabric such as theupholstering of automotive vehicles and for many other obvious uses.

The cleaner is so arranged that the liquid is prevented from reachingthe suction mechanism without materially increasing the suctionresistance, and eliminating clogging of the dust separator, thusenabling the provision of a compact structure in which the dust fillertogether with the suction and power driving mechanism may be removed asa unit for cleaning or inspection.

I claim:

' 1. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a hollow casing, a pump andmotor carried by one wall and depending into the receptacle, a bag offlexible pervious-material surrounding the motor and removably securedto said wall; a shield supported by said receptacle extending upwardlybetween the outer wall of said bag and the inner wall of the receptacleto a point adjacent the top of the bag, whereby airentering thereceptacl must travel upwardly between the receptacle and the shield toa point adjacent the top of the bag and then downwardly between and incontact with the walls of the pervious bagand the shield.

2. In a pneumatic cleaner. the combination of a hollow casing, havingcomparatively stiif walls, a filter cell enclosing a part of the spacewithin said casing, a pump hav ngits outlet in the top wall of suchcasing, a motor secured to the inletside of the pump and dependingwithin the casing, a driving connectioirbetween the motor and the pump;a shield comprising a receptacle open at its top and enclosing saidfilter cell, said shield being spaced from the walls of the casing andfrom said cell and being open at its top, a coarse filter extendingacross said casing beneath the shield and, spaced from said shield andfrom the carried by said cover and disposed between the outer walls ofthe suction-producing means and .the inner walls of the receptacle, areceptacle open at its top, means to secure said cylinder to saidreceptacle, a base adapted and arranged .to removably support saidreceptacle and cylinder: a coarse filter extending transversely acrosssaidreceptacle, a cylindrical shield spaced from and disposed betweensaid cylinder and said dustseparator and open only at its top. meanscarried b ysaid receptacle to removably support said filter and saidshield, and wherein said receptacle has aninlet opening below saidfilter.

4. In: a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a motor, a pump andafilterbag so arranged thatair is. drawn through-the filter bag, the motor andthepump in that order, and means to intercept the flow of air and adsorbsuspended moisture thereinbefore it reaches the bag and pump.

; In a vacuum cleaner, a motor, a pump and Y a filter bag mounted in acommon receptacle hav-.

ing an outlet for said puni-p adjacent its top and ,an inletintermediate its top and bottom, a shield within said receptacle to andadsorb suspended moisture therein before it passes into contact withsaid filter bag.

6. he vacuum cleaner, a vertically disposed receptacle; asuction-producing mechanism disposed within the-receptacle in' the upperregion of the receptacle, an region of thereceptacle, a filtering bagsurrounding the suction-producing mechanism and disposed in the upperregion of said receptacle, a pervious moisture bafliing diaphragmdisposed between the receptacle inlet-and said filteringQbag and servingto intercept, liquid from the airbefore it is drawn upwardly 'to saidfiltering bagv and an auxiliary dirt receptacle disposed within thefirst-named receptacleand surrounding the 4 filtering bag and serving asa baiiie means to cause air and liquid being drawn into the receptacleto pass upwardly to substantially the top of the receptacle beforestriking said filtering bag.

receptacle member,

' within the receptacle adjacent one end thereof,-

7, In a vacuum cleaner, a vertically disposed elongated-receptaclecomprising upper and lower detachable members, a suction-producingmechanism disposed within the upper receptacle member, ,an inlet leadinginto the lower receptacle member, a filtering bag surrounding thesuctionproducing mechanism and disposed in the upper a moisture-battlingdiaphragm disposed in the lower receptacle member and serving tointercept heavy moisture and an auxiliary dirt receptacle disposedwithin the upper receptacle member" and surrounding the filtering bagandserving as a baflle means to cause moisture laden air being drawninto the receptacle to pass upwardly to substantially thetop of thereceptaclebefore striking saidfiltering bag.

8. In a" vacuum cleaner, an elongated receptacle, a suction-producingmechanism disposed an inlet in the receptacle and disposed remotelyintercept the flow of air inlet leading intothe lower ceiving chamber inits -leading1into the air chamber of the-receptacle,

bag through which spaced relation below [the receptacle.

from the suction mechanism, aiiltering bag surrounding thesuction-producing mechanism, a pervious moisture-bathing diaphragmdisposed between the receptacle inlet and said filtering bag and servingto intercept liquid from the air before it is drawn upwardly to saidfilteringlbag' and an auxiliary dirt receptacle disposed within thefirst-named receptacle and surrounding the filtering bag and serving, asa bathe means'to cause moisture-laden air being drawn through themembrane to" pass substantially to one 'end of the receptacle beforestriking, said filtering bag.

9. A housing-structure for afilter bag comprising a receptacle adaptedto contain a filter bag in its upper portion and having an air relowerposition, an inlet an auxiliary dirt receptacle mounted in the upper.portion, of the receptacle, open at its top and surrounding the filterbag and serving to cause air being drawn into the wardly tosubstantially the top of the receptacle before striking the filter bag,-and a pervious moisture-bathing diaphragm disposed between thereceptacle inletand the filter bag and serving to interceptwliquid'fromthe air before the same is drawn upwardly to the filtering bag.

10. A housing structure for a cylindrical filter dust-laden air is drawnby suction means communicatingwith the interior of the bag, said housingcomprising a receptacle having an inlet leading into its lower portionand spaced from the bottom or saidreceptacle, and having an upperportion adapted to receive the filter bag, an-open topped container inthe upper portion of said recept'acle,'the walls of said container beingdisposed between the exterior of thefilter bag and the sids and bottomof the receptacle and being spaced from the top of the receptacle, 9,screen, secured to said container in the-bottom wall thereof andextending across the receptacle so that all air must pass through saidscreen prior to the entrance. of such air into thefilter bag, saidcontainer and screen being removable .as a unit from.

receptacle to pass upw rm rronnsrm'rarm.

